AlXimia

Elemental Wine

AlXimia Winery is the creation of Alvaro Alvarez-Parilla, a mathematician and researcher in pure and applied mathematics at the University of Baja California (UABC). In 2001, after learning a little about wine making from locals in Ensenada, Alvaro decided to purchase seven acres of prime land in Valle de Guadalupe's beautiful San Antonio de las Minas. He hoped that in addition to creating a nice retreat for his family, he would have the opportunity to plant and nurture wine grapes on the property.

A decade later, Alximia has grown far beyond the small family venture that Alvaro first envisioned. After attending a 2004 wine making course at La Escuelita Alvaro was inspired to significantly expand his vision of what Alximia could someday become. In 2005 he crafted three wines, all of which were met with great enthusiasm by local friends and customers. Thanks to this success, Alvaro devoted himself to learning even more about different kinds of grapes that typically flourished in the northern Baja region.

In 2008, Alvaro's larger-scale dreams at last converged with his work at the University. Enrolling in UABC's graduate program in enology, Alvaro began to come up with ideas for his own winery - a magical and environmentally friendly place where visitors would flock to enjoy its intriguing 'mystical' atmosphere and delicious wines. He decided to call it AlXimia, after the word Alchemy... meant in this case to describe the way in which a person can take a few pure ingredients and combine them to form something sophisticated and complex.

Three years later, the winery itself remains under construction but visitors are encouraged and welcome to try out the outstanding AlXimia wines.

The AlXimia label currently offers Barbera, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Tempranillo. Also in the works are plans to add Petit Verdot, Viognier and Zinfandel, among others. Bottles are branded with the AlXimia symbol - four linked circles which represent the four elements (earth, water, wind, fire) from which great wine is nurtured and produced.

One of the central features of AlXimia is its focus on earth friendly construction and operating practices. Thick adobe walls allow for temperature control, while passive cooling and humidifying systems are powered by the wind. On-site electricity is produced with solar panels, and a gravity system is used to carry wine from one stage of its development to the next. In addition, water for production is recycled and the grapes themselves are grown and tended according to organic standards.